Tyranena Brewing Co.
Lake Mills, WI
Available: WI, MN
American brown ale with a portion aged in bourbon barrels..Rocky is said to be “a great saurian” that lives in the depths of Rock Lake—though not seen for over a century.
ABV: 5.75
ABW: 4.6
Color: 27
Bitterness: 30
Original Gravity: 1060
Named after a giant lizard allegedly dwelling deep in the waters of Rock Lake, WI, this brown ale is considerable less fearsome in character. The nose offers light vanilla and bourbon notes, courtesy of the barrels in which some of the brew is aged, and notes of roast, dark chocolate and sweet espresso. In its body, Rocky brings forth more bourbony notes, but quickly balances them with flavors of raisin, toasted and roasted malt, and a little burnt brown sugar, ending in a slightly warming and lightly cloying finish. I wonder how giant lizards feel about barbecue ribs, Memphis style?
Finally, a barrel-aged brew that doesn’t sock it to you with alcohol! Extraordinary balance and drinkability. A great brown ale with soft roasted and caramel malt notes in flavor and aroma, with underlying support of bourbon-barrel aging. One of the most drinkable and refreshing bourbon barrel-aged brews I’ve ever had. Worth savoring or for casual conversational refreshment. Very memorable. I’ll pay good money for this. Pickled eggs, oysters, portobello mushroom sandwich. A revengeful experience worth encountering.
Once described as “beerdom's Brillat-Savarin,” Stephen Beaumont is the author of five books and countless articles on beer, spirits, food, travel, and how it all goes together.
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.
